UVU soccer: Utah Valley soccer meets CSU Bakersfield Tuesday

Coming off a hard-fought 3-2 loss at Loyola Marymount Sunday, the Utah Valley University women’s soccer team has a quick turnaround in the state of California. UVU will face CSU Bakersfield Tuesday at 2 p.m. in its final non-conference tune-up.

OREM, Utah – Coming off a hard-fought 3-2 loss at Loyola Marymount Sunday, the Utah Valley University women’s soccer team has a quick turnaround in the state of California. UVU will face CSU Bakersfield Tuesday at 2 p.m. in its final non-conference tune-up.

Trailing 3-0 early in the second half to LMU, the Wolverines (1-10-1) got on the board when Regan Benson slammed home a volley off a pass from Lexi Felis in the 60th minute. McKell Salmon then pulled UVU to within one in the 84th minute, scoring her first goal of the season on a rebound. The Wolverines were unable to find the equalizing goal in the final six minutes of play, though, eventually falling by a 3-2 score line.

Prior to Sunday’s match, UVU made the quick trip to Provo to face No. 9 BYU Thursday night. The Wolverines were steady in the back line all night and got eight big saves from goalkeeper Lauren Sack. But a Cougar goal only 40 seconds before halftime proved decisive, with BYU holding on for a 1-0 win.

With five goals on the year, Benson paces UVU in the scoring column, followed by three goals from junior forward Natalie Baker. Defenders Lexi Dunn and Kelsey Cook and forward Shalayne Janis have all tallied two assists this season.

In goal, Sack has tallied 42 saves in 2012.

CSU Bakersfield comes into Tuesday at 4-7-2 following a win and a draw in last week’s action. The Roadrunners picked up a 3-1 win over Hawai’i Friday behind two, second half goals, then earned a 1-1 tie at Saint Mary’s on Sunday as freshman forward Megan Todd scored her second goal of the weekend.

Senior forward Sam Peña and midfielder Erica Shelton lead CSUB with three goals apiece. Peña also has four assists to give her a team-high 10 points. Senior defender Daisy Vasquez leads the team in assists with five.

Tori Ornela has seen the majority of the time in goal for the Roadrunners, coming up with 49 saves and a 1.41 goals against average.

The Wolverines have faced CSUB only once in their Division I history, losing 3-1 in Orem in 2008.

The Roadrunners have compiled a 3-2-1 record at home this season, including wins over Idaho State and San Francisco.

Following Tuesday’s match, UVU returns home for the first time in nearly three weeks as it begins the defense of its 2011 GWC Regular Season title against NJIT.